LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection

Title

LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection

Description

The LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection is the home for oral history interviews conducted with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, nonbinary, and asexual individuals from various communities with a focus on those with a connection to Omaha, Nebraska. The interviews were consciously collected to be part of UNO’s Queer Omaha Archives. Interviews to date are all audio recordings and include community members and UNO faculty; interviewees are described individually. Interviews to date have been conducted by UNO professor Jay Irwin, UNO archivist Amy Schindler, UNO students in Prof. Jay Irwin’s Fall 2016 Introduction to LGBT Studies course, and UNO Libraries oral history associate for the Queer Omaha Archives Luke Wegener. Contact UNO Libraries' Archives and Special Collections about access to interviews not yet available online.
Oral history is one of many sources available to consult as part of your research. It reflects the experience of an individual and shares personal opinions offered by the interviewee in response to questioning. Additional sources can verify and provide additional information to the narrative of events presented in oral histories. Contact UNO Libraries’ Archives & Special Collections to continue your research, find additional sources, or learn more.

Date

2016-2018

Creator

Irwin, Jay (Interviewer, Person)
Wegener, Lukas (Interviewer, Person)
University of Nebraska at Omaha. University Library

Publisher

University of Nebraska at Omaha Libraries

Relation

LGBTQ+ Oral History Collection finding aid available at https://archives.nebraska.edu/repositories/4/resources/604

Collection Items

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Ashley Swartz
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Ashley SwartzMs. Ashley Swartz, Nebraska farmer and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on March 28, 2018, in Malmo, Nebraska. Swartz shared information about her…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Sue Stroesser
Audio for this interview is coming soon.Ms. Sue Stroesser, therapist and social justice advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on January 27, 2020 in Omaha, Nebraska. Stroesser shared information about her upbringing in Omaha, Nebraska, being a…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Margret Fennell
Audio for this interview is coming soon. Ms. Margret Fennell, retired Union Pacific worker and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 9, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. Fennell shared information about her upbringing in Gordon and…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Antonio Jackson
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Antonio JacksonMr. Antonio Jackson, LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on August 1, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. Jackson shared information about his upbringing in Omaha,…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Donald Callen Freed
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Donald Callen FreedDr. Donald Callen Freed, educator and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on July 31, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. Freed shared information about his…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Karen Granberg
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Karen GranbergMs. Karen Granberg, psychotherapist and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on July 17, 2019 in Wayne, Nebraska. Granberg shared information about her…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Aaron Aupperle
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Aaron AupperleMr. Aaron Aupperle, conversion therapy survivor and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on May 1, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Aupperle shared information…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Ron Holt
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Ron HoltDr. Ron Holt, psychiatrist and LGBTQ+ educator, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on April 24, 2019 in Wayne, Nebraska. Holt shared information about his upbringing in Omaha,…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Emily Borgmann
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Emily BorgmannMx. Emily Borgmann, poet and educator, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on March 28th, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. Borgmann shared information about growing up in small-town…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with John Smid
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with John SmidMr. John Smid, former Executive Director of ex-gay ministry Love In Action, was interviewed by phone on January 28, 2019, by Luke Wegener. Smid was located in Brookston,…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Chuck Martens
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Chuck Martens Mr. Chuck Martens, long-time Omaha LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on January 16, 2019 in Omaha, Nebraska. Martens shared information about growing up on…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Rob Gilmer
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Rob Gilmer Mr. Rob Gilmer, photographer and restaurant owner, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 5, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Gilmer shared information about growing up on a…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Ann Cannon
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Ann CannonMs. Ann Cannon, Omaha business leader and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 4, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Cannon shared information about growing up…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Roselle Ledesma
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Roselle LedesmaMs. Roselle Ledesma, Omaha musician and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on November 16, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Ledesma shared information about her…

This oral history interview is restricted until May 13, 2039, or the death of the interviewee.

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Eris Koleszar
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Eris KoleszarMs. Eris Koleszar, Omaha community activist and musician, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on August 28, 2018, in Omaha, Nebraska. Koleszar shared information about her…

Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Lynne Mytty
Click here to access the interview, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Lynne MyttyAn oral history interview with Lynne Mytty concerning her life as a transgender woman, working in sociology, her involvement with various LGBTQ+…

Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Carolyn Fiscus
Click here to access the interview, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Carolyn FiscusAn oral history interview with Carolyn Fiscus, Professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, concerning her life as a lesbian Native America woman,…

Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Terry Sweeney
Click here to access the interview, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Terry SweeneyAn oral history interview with Terry Sweeney concerning his life as a gay man in Omaha, his partner Patrick Daniel Phalen, and activism in local LGBTQ+…

Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Nick Newman
Click here to access the interview, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Nick NewmanAn oral history interview with Nick Newman concerning growing up as a gay man, coming out to friends and family, his partners, and his experience with AIDS…

Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Lauren Ward
Click here to access the interview, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Lauren WardAn oral history interview with Lauren Ward concerning her status as a white, gay woman, her experiences in LGBTQ communities in multiple states, her work at…

Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Michael Gordon
Click here to access the interview, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Michael GordonAn oral history interview with Michael Gordon concerning his status as a gay man, his reflections on significant LGBTQ milestones, and his involvement…

Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Steve Jackson
Click here to access the interview, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Steve JacksonAn oral history interview with Steve Jackson concerning his life growing up as a gay man, his relationships with his friends and family, how his sexuality…

Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Daniel Cobos
Click here to access the interview, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Daniel CobosAn oral history interview with Daniel Cobos concerning his status as a gay, Latino man, his time in the U.S. Air Force, and his career working at an HIV and…

Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Carla Ruiz
Click here to access the interview, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Carla RuizAn oral history interview with Carla Ruiz concerning her experiences as a transgender woman, acceptance and lack of acceptance from various members of her…

Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Bob Darcy
Click here to access the interview, Introduction to LGBTQ Studies: Interview with Bob DarcyAn oral history interview with Bob (Robert) Darcy concerning his childhood in Marinette, Wisconsin, his time at Yale University, his coming out story, and his…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Pat Tetreault
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Pat TetreaultDr. Pat Tetreault, LGBTQ+ activist and researcher, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 15, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Tetreault shared information about her…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Tommy Young-Dennis
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Tommy Young-DennisMr. Tommy Young-Dennis, HIV activist and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on October 12, 2018, in Omaha, Nebraska. Young-Dennis shared information…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Alanna Faison
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Alanna FaisonMs. Alanna Faison, science fiction writer and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on April 2, 2018, in Omaha, Nebraska. Faison shared information about…

LGBTQ+: Interview with Meredith Bacon
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+: Interview with Meredith BaconDr. Meredith Bacon, retired UNO Professor of Political Science and LGBTQ+ activist, was interviewed by Dr. Jay Irwin on September 21, 2016, in Omaha, Nebraska. Bacon shared…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Destiny Sturdivant
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Destiny SturdivantMs. Destiny Sturdivant, Omaha comedian and LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on September 20, 2018 in Papillion-La Vista, Nebraska. Sturdivant shared…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Cami Cavanaugh-Rawlings
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Cami Cavanaugh-Rawlings

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Ferial Pearson
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Ferial PearsonDr. Ferial Pearson, Omaha educator and activist, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on April 11, 2018, in Ralston, Nebraska. Pearson shared information about her upbringing…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Shari Baumer
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Shari BaumerMs. Shari Baumer, Omaha LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on March 29, 2018, in Omaha, Nebraska. Baumer shared information about her upbringing in Grand…

LGBTQ+: Interview with Dr. Shelton Hendricks
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+: Interview with Dr. Shelton HendricksDr. Shelton Hendricks, former UNO Professor of Psychology and researcher, was interviewed by Amy Schindler and Dr. Jay Irwin on August 20, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska.…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Tammy Story
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Tammy StoryMs.Tammy Story, LGBTQ+ advocate and veteran, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on March 1, 2018, in Omaha, Nebraska. Story shared information about growing up in Arkansas,…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Borin Chep
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Borin ChepMr. Borin Chep, LGBTQ+ advocate and UNO graduate student, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on March 22, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Chep shared information about growing up as a…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Gary Emenitove
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Gary EmenitoveMr. Gary Emenitove, retired broadcaster and performer with the River City Mixed Chorus, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on February 20, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Emenitove…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Cei Loofe
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Cei LoofeCei Loofe, LGBTQ+ advocate and poet, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on January 19, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Loofe shared information about growing up throughout small towns…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with George Wolf
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with George WolfDr. George Wolf, retired UNL Associate English Professor and LGBTQ+ activist, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 1, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Wolf shared…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Kristi Carter
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Kristi CarterDr. Kristi Carter, poet, author, LGBTQ+ advocate and lecturer of English and Women's and Gender Studies at UNL, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 15, 2017 in…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with James Pennington
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with James PenningtonJames Pennington, Omaha psychotherapist, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on October 20, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. Pennington shared information about their sheltered,…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Marcy Bieler
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Marcy BielerMarcy Bieler, LGBTQ+ advocate, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 13, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. Bieler shared information about growing up in Kansas, knowing she…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Harry Di Lise
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Harry Di LiseHarry Di Lise, retired social worker and founding member of Nebraska AIDS Project, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on November 28, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. Di Lise shared…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Barbara DiBernard
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Barbara DiBernardDr. Barbara DiBernard, retired UNL English and Women's and Gender Studies Professor and LGBTQ+ activist, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on December 1, 2017 in…

LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Scott Jones
Click here to access the interview, LGBTQ+ Voices: Interview with Scott JonesRev. Dr. E. Scott Jones, LGBTQ+ activist and minister, was interviewed by Luke Wegener on February 9, 2018, in Omaha, Nebraska. Jones shared information about his childhood…
View all 47 items